onthebeatntrack

Radio and I have been pretty tight for most of my life – from the early years sitting on the counter of our family milk bar engrossed by the ‘Top 7 at 7’ on a nightly basis (which I’m pretty sure was mostly the same 7 songs at 7 on a nightly basis, but thrilling as an 8 year old nonetheless), through the all discovering and somewhat ‘pseudo alternative’ high school years filled with indie music (tartan pants? Tick.) and all the while it has constantly fed and helped develop my favourite innocent-until-proven-guilty musical indulgence – semi commercial urban grooves (ok, r’n’b).

It was about three years ago when radio and I sort of just drifted apart. It wasn’t an intentional separation and aside from a few ‘disagreements’ there wasn’t any serious malice between us (if this was around the time that Nickelback released that dreadful “photographs” song, we’ll note that as no more than a lucky coincidence). The first wedge was driven between us when my car stereo dumped me to run off with my four wheeled ‘friend’ (to be honest, I was always a bit suspicious – I expected the car to leave me at some stage and those two did spend an awful lot of time together). My car’s front seat was our favourite meeting place, so when that was taken away from us our fraternising all but ceased. The final nail in the coffin was hammered when I found another in the form of my iPod … ahhhh, I suspect that even Haddaway would have known “What is Love?” had he been able to live this modern technology version of romance in the mid 90’s. So, radio was relegated from canoodling in the front seat to taking a back seat.

That is until recently when my radio relations have had a rekindling of sorts. I mean, we’re not back ‘on’ or anything, but just spending a bit more time, seeing where it goes. The main driver – quite literally – has been a set of wheels at my Monday to Friday disposal, so instead of walking to work I’ve been driving and temporarily swapped the iPod for the radio. The car does have a CD facility too, but I tend to prefer whole albums just as they were made – whole – so they’re not really appropriate for a quick trip to the shops. Therefore hence thus, a little radio in the morning and a little radio in the evening is back in my diet.

It is nice to be back in the old familiar FM territory, though it has highlighted a significant deterioration in the ability of my reflexes to respond to a crisis of the musical variety. As I drive innocently (though with the occasional outburst of other-driver-provoked-Tourette’s Syndrome), I am frequently shocked at the amount of time it takes my brain to tell my finger to change the dial when I am subjected to something excruciating (think Nickelback, Justin Beiber or 3 out of the last 4 songs from the Black Eyed Peas) and I wonder whether there is something bigger going on here. And I’m right to wonder – because there is!

You see, I’ve uncovered a nasty little germ and called it the Two & a Half Men Virus (or 2.5MV: patent – and official medical recognition – pending). Ever heard a song and thought “WHAT is thiisss?!?” while trying to expel the little vomit you just had in your mouth? Yet, somehow, sometime in the near future, you find yourself singing every word and it’s not until half way through the song that you even realise? It’s like your reflexes have been temporarily paralysed. Then, you start saying to people “oh, you know what song is kinda growing on me? Um, yer , When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls. I know it’s no classic like Dontcha but it’s not as bad as I first thought …” and BANG, you’re infected. Other symptoms might include singing “baby, baby, baby, oooh” every time someone mentions the words Justin and Beiber (please, find me a cure – my taste is too young to die!)

And this is exactly what happened with Two & a Half Men – it just kept being played until its mediocre (at best) and so-obvious-it’s-offensive humour became so familiar that people just accept that it sits with them at dinner like some drunk uncle, mostly unaware that its presence is only worsening their condition (get help – it’s not too late!)

My beef is that there is altogether too much time spent on too many shit songs – there I said it. And you know it’s not that I’m a music snob (seriously, TiK ToK STILL has the ability to turn a bad day good), I just get a little frustrated that there are sooo many other worthy songs that don’t fit the totally disposable mould that the kids of this fickle age seem to eat up like an after midnight souvlaki (I’ll have mine jumbo – double meat … nom nom nom).

Want to know what makes the ‘sooo many other worthy songs’ list? Fantastic! That’s exactly what I had in mind. I’ve always been amazed at the glaring omission of some songs from total mainstream popularity – the list includes less obvious songs by high profile artists right through to instantly likeable songs by lesser known artists, but all totally deserving of the investment you should put in. I’ve picked a few of my favourites below that don’t carry the 2.5M virus so haven’t infected as many people as they deservedly should.

Blast Off – Danielle Spencer

When I heard this song for the first time live on the Panel MANY years ago, I was blown away. I thought it was a clever blend of dark pop and a kooky but sincere piano ballad. I was AMAZED when nothing happened – no airplay on the radio, no charting position, nada! I did buy the CD single – followed by the whole CD (which has some impressive moments and showed some promise). Russell Crowe’s wife and Don Spencer (from Play School)’s daughter is releasing a new album soon. I for one will give it a chance … which is no doubt more than I can say for you.

Butterflies – Michael Jackson

Definitely in my top 3 Michael Jackson songs – this was on Invincible (his last album of original songs some time around the turn of the millennium) and is just a beautiful slice of soulful pie – sweet, without making you feel sick. I can’t think of another more effective use of ‘less is more’ from MJ and as a result this is a song I can never grow tired of, even after many years – and it’s still in my iTunes 25 Most Played List. I do love the amount of involuntary above-my-shoulders movement that occurs in the presence of this song … mmm hmmmm.

Sweet Music – Kylie Minogue

I think Minogue, K. has done it tough over the last couple of albums. I think that both Body Language (which this gem is on) and X both have a lot more radio potential moments than they produced – and THIS song is possibly the biggest anomaly of them all. Totally underrated and didn’t even get released as a single!

I Decided – Solange Knowles (Part II)

Yes, like Kylie has Dannii (or is that just one ‘i’ nowadays?), Beyonce has Solange. Where the older sister goes for the classy loved-by-millions progressive-but-still-mainstream pop career, younger sister chooses the road less travelled and along the way takes a few risks. The original of this song is good – a modern take on an old school sound. But the remix sounds almost brassy and adds an all-enveloping disco bass and with it brings some serious funk and sass. The lyrics (“I de-ci-ded that you are the him for me (I decided), oh my boy”) are starry-eyed and quite delightful – and most importantly, she sings it like she means it.

Summertime – the Sundays

I’ve gone here before with you guys, but it’s worthy of every. single. word. I still remember the first time I heard this song – it was about 1997 and we’d just been to Safeway to buy a cask of red wine to settle in for the night (that same red wine may have only been partially digested before ending up on someone’s carpet – sorry!). 16 year olds and their vomit aside, I’ve simply never forgotten this song and all its gloriousness – it sounds totally romantic and I’m a sucker for that kind of shit, BUT listen closely because all is not what it lyrically seems. If you like this, you should also check out Satellite by Natalie Imbruglia (from White Lillies Island) – quite inspired.

The World Should Revolve Around Me – Little Jackie

Little Jackie, your lack of notoriety is criminal! I do have to thank Skeleton Girl for introducing me to Little Jackie and their wonderful way with words. Little Jackie is fronted by Immani Coppola of Legend of the Cowgirl fame (know it? “… pack my bags and mount my horse, I’m gonna ride on into the next town”) AND they deserve much more than a token mention at the end of a blog, so I’m going to make it my mission to give them the space they deserve in another edition. But THIS song is ridiculous – it’s back to back witty puns wrapped into a story “… what came first, the chicken nugget or the egg McMuffin” or “he came out of the blue and went right back into it”. Gold.  Anyhoo – more to come …

Stop Me – Mark Ronson with Daniel Merriweather

I know that this song was massive in the ‘motherland’ – and rightfully so – but no love in my homeland. Whatupwiththat? This is as perfect a pop song as you’re likely to hear – sure it’s a cover (it’s 2 covers to be precise), but totally reinvents both of the songs it pays homage to and surprisingly merges them brilliantly and relevantly. Daniel Merriweather is the most underappreciated of talents and Mark Ronson has been responsible for many of a joyful musical moment in recent years. Anyway, just listen – it’s really bloody good.

Wait for You – Nelly Furtado

What’s amazing about Nelly Furtado, is that (like Christina Aguilera) she’s had so many consistently high quality ‘hits’ and yet still has so many other tracks that deserve just as many friends as their more popular older single sisters – and this is one of them. It’s Type A Timbaland – the clapping sound in the bass, the bird-like squawk as the chorus fades out and this one even adds a touch of the middle east. Along with Promiscuous and Say It Right (how unbelievable that little gem is) this is my other favourite on Loose.

Everything – P Money and Vince Harder

This track is sick as bro, eh! The omission of a question mark was deliberate – I’m telling you the answer is yes. I loved this song the very first time I heard it! Being slightly partial to a dose of reality tv in my time, I was not displeased to find out that this was Vince from the one and only season of X Factor Australia (some useless trivia: he also played Simba in the Lion King … the stage version, in case that had to be clarified). Given both P-Money and V-Harder are both from uN-Zed, I consulted my Kiwi Konsultant (thanks KD from A-Town) to konfirm that this song was big in their homeland. And it was. And deservedly so.

We’ve all no doubt got underrated sentimental favourites, so send me yours so that I can tell you whether you’re right or not …

A little bit of Radio on the side … I should let you know that for the last year or so, radio and I have been hooking up every couple of weeks JUST for a couple of hours on a Sunday night when I can. The show is called 2010 (formerly known as 2009 in, er, 2009) with Richard Kingsmill on Triple J. It is like reading 5 music magazines all bundled into three very pleasant hours – introductory, enlightening, educational, discerning and diverse. Basically, Richard takes listeners through his selections of the week’s best new released tracks. If you like hearing about new music and learning a little bit along the way, you should check it out every Sunday from 6pm – 9pm on Triple J.